@babel/register is a convenient Babel module that transpiles your code on the fly. By simply requiring it, any subsequent require() calls for .js, .jsx, .ts, or .tsx files will be automatically compiled by Babel, making it easier to use ESNext features in your Node.js projects without pre-compilation steps. This is especially useful during development and for running tests directly without needing a build process. Use with caution in production environments due to performance considerations.
@babel/register releases have been sporadic since its initial version 7.0.0 in August 2018. Releases occurred nearly every month in 2019 and 2020, with peaks in release frequency (2-3 releases) at certain periods. Over the past two years, the package's release frequency has decreased, occurring a few times per year at most. The latest version, 7.28.3, was released in August 2025.
@babel/register downloads fluctuated between 33-37 million from March to November 2024, dipping slightly in December. 2025 saw a similar range until June, with a spike to 39 million. July and August then showed a decline, and September is incomplete, showing only 1 million downloads so far.
